At the observation of Voluntary Blood Donation Day 2017, Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik highlighted state government’s initiatives for ensuring easy access to blood. Highlights from his address at the event:
• NAT/PCR screening to be implemented in all major blood banks of the state soon
• Assistance of ₹500 per month to patients with blood disorders for transportation cost for blood transfusion
• Free of cost provision of blood to patients with blood disorders
• 14 Blood Component Separation Units including private units to enable optimal & appropriate clinical use of blood
• Seven new Blood Component Separation Units soon at Balasore, Baripada, Keonjhar, Koraput, Bargarh, Balangir & Rourkela
• Four new Blood Component Separation Units next year at Jharsuguda, Dhenkanal, Phulbani and Bhawanipatna
• Blood banks in state linked with National Institute of Biologicals,Noida for Haemo-Vigilance program to ensure blood safety
• Proposal in pipeline for improving Blood Transfusion Service in the state
– Provision of nine Blood Collection Vans to 9 major blood banks
– Automation of blood grouping & cross matching in blood banks collecting 10,000 units of blood per annum
– Increase in number of PG seats in transfusion medicine in SCB Medical College, Cuttack
– Opening of day care centre at Balasore, Kandhamal and Rourkela for blood disorder patients
Chief Minister Shri Patnaik congratulated the organisers of Jiban Bindu programme, Ama Odisha blood donation camp, Satya Sai and others for improving awareness on blood. He urged everyone to come forward to promote voluntary blood donation and help achieve goal of hundred per cent safe and adequate blood for all.